Aithur's eyes shot open.
"Damn it!" he cursed, scrambling upright with wild hair and a startled expression. "Why the hell am I still here?!"
The soft thump of something falling off his lap drew his attention. The white fox-shaped system let out a sleepy groan as it hit the mossy ground, flailing its little paws.
"Ow! Rude awakening!" it muttered, rubbing its snout. "What happened to 'beauty rest,' huh? Didn't you say you wanted to sleep forever?"
Aithur didn't answer. He looked around the glowing cave, frustration knitting his brows. There—just beyond the pool—was a narrow pathway leading upward, spiraling along the cave wall like a giant serpent's spine. It might be dangerous. It might lead to more disappointment. It might lead to people.
Still, he stood.
"I can't stay here," Aithur muttered, more to himself than to the fox. "It's not the time to sleep. I need to get out."
He scooped up the white fox and plopped it on his shoulder like a scarf.
"Hey!" it squeaked. "Personal space!"
"Pipe down," Aithur said, already marching toward the pathway. "You're not even warm."
"Not warm? Excuse you, I'm cuddly deluxe!"
As Aithur climbed, the fox groaned, paws gripping the collar of his shirt like a pet refusing to be left behind.
"Can we not?" the system whined. "Let's just go back and nap. Forget the outside world. It's loud, dirty, and filled with emotional trauma."
"I need food," Aithur said plainly.
"You have Sleep Regeneration. Just sleep away your hunger."
"I'm human," he said, deadpan. "I'll die."
The fox gave a dramatic gasp, lifting a paw to its chest. "Didn't you hear what I said last chapter? You're already dying! You've got a messed-up heart! Very tragic. Very edgy."
Aithur stopped. His lips twitched in annoyance. Then he did the unthinkable.
He grabbed the fox by its tail.
"Wha—HEY! I'll sue!" the system cried, dangling upside down.
"Stop complaining and hold still," Aithur said through gritted teeth.
He dragged the fox along the rocky path. The system flailed wildly, claws scratching against the cave floor.
"I'll bite you! I will!"
"Go ahead. I've survived worse."
"Why are you even dragging me?"
"Because you're annoying and I'm petty."
"This is system abuse!"
"You're lazy."
"EXCUSE ME!" The fox stopped flailing just long enough to look offended. "I am strategically efficient. I don't waste energy on useless things like... adventuring, or exercise."
Aithur rolled his eyes. "Aren't you supposed to help people level up?"
"Yes," the fox sniffed. "But in peaceful ways. I'm the pioneer of non-violent cultivation! Meditation, naps, self-reflection—"
"Laziness."
"Productive serenity!"
"No wonder you got sealed."
"Exactly! Those hotheaded cultivators wanted me to design crazy power-up quests and monster slaying systems! Ew. Do I look like I lift?"
Aithur glanced sideways. "You look like a fluffy rice ball."
"I will end you."
They reached a small ledge, and Aithur stopped to catch his breath. The fox wiggled its way free and sat beside him with a loud huff, crossing its paws like a grumpy cat.
"Why do you even want to leave?" it muttered. "You were betrayed, remember? By four people. Friends. Allies. Lovers?"
"Don't talk like you know me."
The fox sighed, softer now. "I scanned you when you bonded with me. Sorry. It's in the files. Pretty tragic stuff."
Aithur didn't respond. His face had gone blank again. Cold. Distant.
"They left me to die," he said finally, voice tight. "Smiled while stabbing me. And now I'm supposed to stay buried in this hole forever?"
"No," the fox mumbled. "Just... delay the world a bit longer. That's all."
Aithur stood.
"I'm not like you," he said. "You can live centuries in silence. I'm still human. I'm still angry. I'm still hungry."
He turned to continue.
The system stared after him, pouting.
"Fine!" it shouted. "Go ahead and meet those overpowered pride monsters again. Have fun! I'll stay here, where mushrooms don't yell!"
Aithur didn't stop.
The fox sulked for a full minute.
Then, grumbling and muttering things like "This isn't lazy, this is WORK," it scampered after him.
Just as it reached Aithur's boots, the cave rumbled.
The floor trembled.
The ceiling cracked.
"Oh no," the system whispered, leaping onto Aithur's shoulder like a rocket-powered squirrel.
Aithur staggered and fell onto his butt.
The rumbling stopped.
"Okay," he breathed. "Just a small quake."
"Cool. Cool. Love that. Very stable living environment," the fox muttered.
A creak echoed.
It wasn't above them.
It was below.
They both looked down.
Aithur blinked.
The system blinked.
Then the floor beneath Aithur gave way with a crack.
"NOPE—" Aithur tried to scramble, but gravity had other plans. With a panicked yell, he and the fox dropped into the darkness like a couple of mismatched marbles.
"THIS IS WHY I HATE MOVING!" the fox screeched as they fell.
They disappeared into the depths of the earth.
Ding!
[Host has been sitting for 3 hours. Level Up!]
[Host has reached Level 2. Congratulations, Heart Sleeper. You are now one level closer to being slightly less useless.]